Containers for molten metal



Oct. 13, 1964 T. w. SHERBURN ETAL 3,153,110

CONTAINERS FOR MOLTEN METAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1962 lNvEN-roFzs T W She rurn Oct. 13, 1964 -r. w. SHERBURN E'l 'AL 0 CONTAINERS FOR MQLTEN METAL Filed April 13, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR$ I M S/zerur-n rf l inga rd I QJ AT TOR'NEY3 United States Patent 3,153,116 IIONIAINEIIS Ftlllili MOL'IEN METAL Trevor William Sherbnrn, Doncaster, and John Harry Lingard, iiheilield, England, assiguors to Davy and United Engineering Company Limited, Sheflield, England Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,415 (Ilaims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 211, 1%1, l lfilltl/ol 6 Claims. (Cl. 266-478) This invention relates to containers for molten metal, and is particularly concerned with metallurgical converters.

Steel converters, such as top-blown oxygen converters, are normally supplied with a fixed tapping spout, enabling the molten metal to be run oil below the level of the floating slag. When substantially all the metal has been removed, the slag and remaining metal may be run off through the same tapping spout. However, tapping difficulties may be experienced with particular charges of the converter.

According to the present invention, a container for molten metal comprises a tapping spout which is adapted to be located on the container in any one of a number of prescribed positions, thus making it possible for the optimum position of the tapping spout to be selected for any given charge. Where the container is a metallurgical converter, the tapping spout position may be chosen according to the charge and the condition of the converter lining to ensure a maximum head of molten metal over the spout during tapping, thus minimising the tapping time, and also to ensure that the converter can be easily drained at the end of the tap.

In one form of the invention given by Way of example,

a metallurgical converter has a cover plate supplied with a number of spaced recesses, and includes a tapping spout secured to a nozzle plate which has outwardly extending detents adapted to be received within the recesses, the

arrangement being such that, by selection of the recesses into which the detents are placed, the tapping spout may be located and fixed in any one of a number of prescribed positions on the cover plate, fixing being performed by means of cotters driven between keywayed lugs which project from the cover plate.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, an adjustable tapping spout in acordance therewith will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a section on line I-I of FIGURE 2 and shows, in sectional side elevation, the tapping spout of a converter in its number 2 position;

FIGURE 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line III-III of FIGURE 2.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a metallurgical converter has an outer steel skin 12 having permanent refractory linings I3, 14., and a replaceable refractory lining 15. The converter is provided with a tapping spout consisting of a steel nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 is secured to a steel nozzle plate 17 and is lined with a refractory tube l8 which passes through the linings l3 and I and which is partially bounded over a portion of its length by the lining I l.

The nozzle plate 17 is generally rectangular in plan as seen in FIGURE 2. Plate 17 overlaps the converter skin 12 and has a number of detents ZllA-l. which extend laterally from its side edges. A cover plate Zll is welded to the external surface of the skin 12 (see FIGURE 3) and has formed thereon a number of outwardly extending blocks ZZA-U. Between adjacent blocks are recesses EBA-S and for any given position of the nozzle plate 17 3,153,110 Patented Oct. 13, I964 ice a corresponding number of these recesses receive, with a sliding fit, the detents ZOA-L of the plate 17, so that said detents and recesses serve as locating means for the nozzle plate.

As shown in FIGURE 2 six pairs of adjacent blocks 22 are formed with outwardly extending lugs 24; each lug is so placed on its parent block that the lug face adjacent to the detent lies flush with the corresponding block face. Each lug contains a key-way 25 (see FIGURE 3), and the key-ways in adjacent lugs 24 receive a wedge-shaped cotter 26, which bridges the pair of lugs and overlies the detent 2t) located between those lugs, the depths of the key-ways being so dimensioned that the top surface of the cotter is forced into contact with thetop surfaces of the key-ways.

From FIGURE 2, it will be seen that, although there are only six pairs of lugs 24, there are twelve detents 20 and eighteen recesses 23. Plate 17 can therefore be located in any one of a number of positions, four positions being available in the arrangement illustrated, and in each position difierent detents are received and secured by the lugs 24 and cotters 26. It is to be understood however that in certain embodiments of the invention, the number of recesses may equal the number of detents and also a pair of lugs may be associated with each recess.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 the plate 17 is shown in its number 2 position. In the number 1 position the plate 17 is moved downwardly as seen in FIGURE 2 to wards the base of the converter, so that detents 20F and 29L occupy recesses 231 and 235. To obtain the number 3 position and the number 4 position, the plate is turned end to end. In the number 3 position detents MW and ZtlL occupy recesses 23K, 23B respectively; in the number 4 position detents 20F and 20L occupy recesses 23], 23A respectively. In each of the four positions, the plate is held in position by six coters equally disposed about the axis of symmetry of the plate.

A deflector plate 27 (see FIGURE 1), is mounted on the outer steel slcin 12 of the converter in downward angular relation thereto, thus protecting the cotters from molten metal. From FIGURES 1 and 2 it is seen that the plate 17 is provided with webs 28 and 29 which are secured to the plate along its axis of symmetry, one end of each abutting and being fixed to the steel nozzle 16. Each of the webs 28 and 29 have holes 30 and 31 respectively which enable the plate 17 to be raised or lowered relatively to the container.

When it is desired to change the position of the tapping spout on the converter, the refractory tube 18 and the linings 13, 14, 15 adjacent the tapping spout are broken away. The plate 17 is attached to a crane by means of the holes 3d, 31 and, after the cotters 26 have been knocked out, the plate is lifted off the skin of shell 12 and lowered into the new position. The cotters 26 are replaced to lock the nozzle 16 in the new position, the plate 7 is released from the crane, and the tube 18 and those parts of the linings I3, 14, 15 that were broken away are replaced. The converter is then ready for use with the tapping spout in its new position.

We claim:

1. A container for molten metal comprising an outer metal shell, an internal refractory lining, a nozzle for a tapping spout, said shell being formed with an opening in an approximately vertical wall thereof, said opening having a vertical dimension substantially greater than the diameter of said nozzle, a nozzle plate in which said noz zle is secured, said plate being dimensioned to overlap all of the edges of said shell surrounding said opening when positioned over said opening in any one of a plurality of vertically spaced positions, locating. means positioning said nozzle plate with respect to said shell whereby said nozzle may be retained in any one of said plurality of vertically spaced positions on the surface of said shell in alignment with said opening, and means for locking the nozzle plate in any of said positions.

2. A container for molten metal comprising an outer metal shell, an internal refractory lining, a nozzle for a tapping spout, said shell being formed with an opening in an approximately vertical wall thereof, said opening having a vertical dimension substantially greater than the diameter of said nozzle, a nozzle plate in which said nozzle is secured, said plate being dimensioned to overlap said shell when positioned over said opening, two series of vertically spaced blocks on' said shell projecting outwardly therefrom and forming recesses between adjacent blocks, two series of similarly spaced detents on said 1 nozzle plate receivable in any one of a plurality of positions in said recesses to hold said nozzle in any one of a corresponding plurality of vertically spaced positions relative to said'shell, and means for locking at least some of said detents in said recesses.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 comprising on each of at least some of said pairs of blocks an outwardly extending lug having therein a key-way, and cotters receivable in said key-ways for bridging the pairs of lugs to hold said detents in said recesses.

4. A container according to claim 3 comprising also a 'bafile plate secured to said shell and positioned to protect said lugs and cotters from molten metal.

5. A container according to claim 1 in which said nozzle is secured in said nozzle plate at a position displaced laterally from the centre thereof.

6, A container for molten metal comprising an outer metal shell, an internal refractory lining, two parallel series of blocks secured on the outer surface of said shell,

each said series extending upwardly of said shell and said blocks of each said series being spaced apart to form recesses between adjacent pairs of blocks, on each of at least some of said pairs of blocks an outwardly extending lug having therein a key-way, a nozzle for a tapping spout, a nozzle plate in which said nozzle is secured and which overlies said shell between said two series of blocks, laterally extending detents on the side edges of said nozzle plate, said detents being receivable in said recesses in any of a number of positions of said nozzle plate relative to said shell, and cotters receivable in said key-ways for bridging the pairs of lugs for holding said detents in said recesses.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 801,657 Franlce Oct. 10, 1905 1,282,103 Moffat Oct. 22, 1918 1,873,549 Coffey Aug. 23, 1932 2,581,150 Shore Jan. 1, 1952 2,744,303 Dore May 8, 1956 2,948,522 Peters Aug. 9, 1960 

1. A CONTAINER FOR MOLTEN METAL COMPRISING AN OUTER METAL SHELL, AN INTERNAL REFRACTORY LINING, A NOZZLE FOR A TAPPING SPOUT, SAID SHELL BEING FORMED WITH AN OPENING IN AN APPROXIMATELY VERTICAL WALL THEREOF, SAID OPENING HAVING A VERTICAL DIMENSION SUBSTANTALLY GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF SAID NOZZLE, A NOZZLE PLATE IN WHICH SAID NOZZLE IS SECURED, SAID PLATE BEING DIMENSIONED TO OVERLAP ALL OF THE EDGES OF SAID SHELL SURROUNDING SAID OPENING WHEN POSITIONED OVER SAID OPENING IN ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED POSITIONS, LOCATING MEANS POSITIONING 